About the symbols we use
indicates Canadian material
2009
Advances in adult asthma diagnosis and treatment and health outcomes, education, delivery, and quality in 2008.
Apter AJ.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2009 Jan;123(1):35-40.
Abstract available online.
Advances in pediatric asthma in 2008: where do we go now?
Szefler SJ.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2009 Jan;123(1):28-34
Abstract available online.
2008
The ABCs of asthma control.
Thorsteinsdottir B, Volcheck GW, et al.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2008 Jul;83(7):814-20.
Available online.
Asthma in Canada: missing the treatment targets.
Chapman KR.
CMAJ. 2008 Apr 8;178(8):1027-8.
Available online.
Asthma, outdoor air quality and the Olympic Games.
McKenzie DC, Boulet LP.
CMAJ. 2008 Sep 9;179(6):543-8. Epub 2008 Aug 7.
Available online.
Asthmatic symptoms among pupils in relation to winter indoor and outdoor air pollution in schools in Taiyun, China.
Zhao Z, Zhang Z, et al.
Environmental Health Perspectives 2008 Jan;116(1):90-7.
Indoor chemical air pollutants of mainly outdoor origin could be risk factors for pupils’ respiratory symptoms at school, and home exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and chemical emissions from new furniture could affect pupils’ respiratory health. [excerpted from abstract]
Available online.
Body mass index and childhood asthma: a linear association?
Sithole F, Douwes J, et al.
The Journal of Asthma 2008 Aug;45(6):473-7.
Abstract available online.
Canadian Adult Asthma Update 2008 key messages: a focus on translating knowledge into action in primary care.
McIvor A, Hodder R.
Canadian Respiratory Journal 2008 Apr;15(3):121-2.
Effect of cost-sharing on use of asthma medication in children.
Ungar WJ, Kozyrskyj A, et al.
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2008 Feb;162(2):104-10.
Examines the effect of cost-sharing on the use of asthma medications in asthmatic children in Ontario [adapted from abstract]
Abstract available online.
Environmental issues in managing asthma.
Diette GB, McCormack MC, et al.
Respiratory Care. 2008 May;53(5):602-15; discussion 616-7.
Available online.
Guidelines for asthma management: a review and comparison of 5 current guidelines.
Myers TR.
Respiratory Care. 2008 Jun;53(6):751-67; discussion 767-9.
Available online.
New asthma guidelines emphasize control, regular monitoring.
Lang DM.
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2008 Sep;75(9):641-53.
Available online.
Obesity and exercise habits of asthmatic patients.
Westermann H, Choi TN, et al.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2008 Nov;101(5):488-94.
Available online.
Obesity and the lung: 4. Obesity and asthma.
Sin DD, Sutherland ER.
Thorax. 2008 Nov;63(11):1018-23.
Abstract available online.
Prevalence of asthma among Chinese adolescents living in Canada and in China.
Wang HY, Wong GW, et al.
CMAJ. 2008 Nov 18;179(11):1133-42.
Available online.
Primary asthma prevention: is it possible?
Becker A, Chan-Yeung M.
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports 2008 May;8(3):255-61.
Abstract available online.
Recent advances in asthma genetics.
Zhang J, Paré PD, et al.
Respiratory Research 2008 Jan 15;9:4.
A review on recent advances in asthma genetics.
Available online.
Sex differences in asthma.
McCallister JW, Mastronarde JG.
Journal of Asthma. 2008 Dec;45(10):853-61.
Abstract available online.
2007
Acute severe asthma: recent advances.
Kaza V, Bandi V, et al.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine 2007 Jan;13(1):1-7.
Discusses recent advances in identification of risk factors, clinical evaluation, and management of acute severe asthma.
Abstract available online.
Antioxidant vitamin supplementation in asthma.
Riccioni G, Barbara M, et al.
Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science 2007 Winter;37(1):96-101.
This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the relations between antioxidant vitamins and the treatment of bronchial asthma. [adapted from abstract]
Abstract available online.
Asthma and air quality.
Sarnat JA, Holguin F.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine 2007 Jan;13(1):63-6.
Focuses on asthma and the health effects associated with exposure to outdoor air pollution.
Abstract available online.
Asthma control during the year after bronchial thermoplasty.
Cox G, Thomson NC, et al.
New England Journal of Medicine 2007 Mar 29;356(13):1327-37.
“Bronchial thermoplasty in subjects with moderate or severe asthma results in an improvement in asthma control.” [excerpted from abstract]
Availalbe online.
Asthma control in Canada: no improvement since we last looked in 1999.
McIvor RA, Boulet LP, et al.
Canadian Family Physician. 2007 Apr;53(4):673-7, 672.
Avaialble online.
Asthma triggers & treatments.
Health News (Waltham, Mass.) 2007 July:9-10.
Discusses extra weight as a factor, and other asthma triggers & symptoms; diagnosis; and symptom control.
Available in Toronto Public Library online Journal database with a valid library card.
Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (EPR-3).
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; 2007: 440p.
Available online.
The needs of older people with asthma.
Cousens NE, Goeman DP, et al.
Australian Family Physician 2007 Sep;36(9):729-31.
Elderly people with asthma go undiagnosed due to under-reporting of symptoms and attributing breathlessness to age and other comorbidities, and to their impaired perception of asthma severity, poor medication adherence, physical disability, cognitive dysfunction, and a passive self management approach. The management of asthma among the elderly is likely to improve if specific needs are addressed with tailored educational interventions and appropriate care. [adapted from abstract]
Available online.
Obesity and asthma: implications for treatment.
Shore SA.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine 2007 Jan;13(1):56-62
This review “summarizes and evaluates recent data examining the relationship between obesity and asthma and its biological basis and evaluates the implications of these data for treatment”. [adapted from article]
Abstract available online.
Occupational asthma, work-related asthma and reactive airways dysfunction syndrome.
Banks DE, Jalloul A.
Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine 2007 Mar;13(2):131-6.
This review summarizes 3 types of work-related asthma, emphasizes what is known about their outcomes , especially work-aggravated asthma.
Abstract available online.
Outdoor air pollution and emergency department visits for asthma among children and adults: a case-crossover study in northern Alberta, Canada.
Villeneuve PJ, Chen L, et al.
Environmental Health 2007 Dec 24;6:40.
Findings suggest that exposure to ambient levels of air pollution is an important determinant of emergency department visits for asthma, particularly among young children and the elderly. [adapted from abstract]
Available online.
Randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial of selenium supplementation in adult asthma.
Shaheen SO, Newson RB, et al.
Thorax 2007 Jun;62(6):483-90.
According to this research “selenium supplementation had no clinical benefit in adults with asthma (the majority of whom were taking inhaled steroids.)” [adapted from abstract]
Abstract availalbe online.
Role of allergens in Asthma.
Platts-Mills T, Leung DY, et al.
American Family Physician 2007 Sep 1;76(5):675-80.
Reviews the role of allergens in the management of asthma: allergy testing, allergens and pollutants avoidance, immunotherapy, referral to an allergist, etc. [adapted from article]
Available online.
2006
Asthma: diagnosis and management.
Mathur SK, Busse WW.
Medical Clinics of North America 2006 Jan;90(1):39-60.
Provides an “overview of the approaches and tools available to diagnose and manage asthma for optimum control”. [excerpted from article]. Also discusses comorbidities associated with asthma.
Abstract available online.
Physical activity and health in Canadian asthmatics.
Dogra S, Baker J.
Journal of Asthma 2006 Dec;43(10):795-9.
Discusses the effect of physical activity on the health of Canadians with asthma.
Available in Toronto Public Library online Journal database with a valid library card.
2005
ABC of asthma: prevalence.
Rees J.
British Medical Journal 2005 Aug 20:443-5.
A primer on the genetics of asthma and changes in prevalence.
Available online.
Asthma: exploring the mind-body connection.
Dr. Andrew Weil’s Self Healing 2005 May:3.
In line with the evidence…”that emotional stress can indeed trigger or worsen asthma attacks, although not cause the disease itself….” Dr. Weil lists various mind-body approaches that complement traditional treatments of asthma. [adapted from article]
Asthma: grown-ups have it too: the condition is sometimes misdiagnosed in adults, although proper treatment could spare many bouts of coughing and wheezing.
Harvard Health Letter 2005 Apr:4-5.
This article serves as a reminder that asthma is often misdiagnosed in adults. It discusses differential diagnosis and preferred treatment methods.
Available in Toronto Public Library online Journal database with a valid library card.
Childhood asthma: treatment update.
Courtney AU, McCarter DF, et al.
American Family Physician 2005 May 15:1959-68.
This is a refereed scholarly article on the latest treatments of childhood asthma.
Available online.
Does mild persistent asthma require regular treatment?
Fabbri LM.
New England Journal of Medicine 2005 Apr 14:1589-91.
In this editorial, the author discusses the pros and cons of ongoing treatment of mild but persistent asthma.
Available online.
Finding the correct inhaled corticosteroid dose in asthma.
Graft DF.
Postgraduate Medicine. 2005 May:21-4.
This article discusses the recommendations of NAEPP, The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, (U.S.) for the use of inhaled corticosteroids.
Available online.
Flexible asthma therapy.
D’Urzo AD, Solanki V.
Canadian Family Physician 2005 Dec:1633-6.
A critical appraisal of a research study comparing the effectiveness of adjustable maintenance dosing with budesonide/formoterol (B/F) with fixed-dose salmeterol/fluticasone (S/F).
Available online.
Is it asthma or COPD? The answer determines proper therapy for chronic airflow obstruction.
Martinez FJ, Standiford C, et al.
Postgraduate Medicine 2005 Mar:19-26.
The author discusses the differential diagnosis of asthma and COPD and goals of treatment for each.
Available in Toronto Public Library online Journal database with a valid library card.
Preventing asthmatic attacks with Chinese medicine.
Flows B.
Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients 2005 Nov:109-11.
“…the authors believe that root treatment [for asthma] should mainly consist of supplementing the spleen and boosting the qi.” They provide a list of treatment methods and report on study outcomes. [excerpted from article]
Available in Toronto Public Library online Journal database with a valid library card.
Information from your family doctor. Treating my child's asthma.
American Family Physician 2005 May 15:1969.
A consumer friendly handout on the treatment of childhood asthma.
Available online.
